Riley Ward, age 14, of Grand Forks, N.D., for his question:

WHAT DOES AN OSCILLOSCOPE DO?

An oscilloscope is an electronic instrument that records changes in the voltage of an electric or electronic circuit by a trace of light on the face of a cathode ray tube.

Oscilloscopes are widely used throughout industry and in scientific labs to test and adjust electronic equipment and to follow extremely rapid oscillations in electric voltage. The oscilloscope is able to follow changes that occur within several billionths of a second.

By attaching special converters to an oscilloscope it is possible to convert mechanical vibrations, sound waves and other forms of oscillatory motion into electrical impulses that can be observed on the face of the cathode ray tube.